ALAN STUBBS has revealed the desire to keep proving people wrong has helped him clinch a new contract with Everton.

The 35-year-old defender has earned another one-year extension after his consistent run in the side during the second half of the season.

Stubbs was initially given a 12-month deal last summer but his influence in David Moyes’ side securing sixth place in the Premiership and a Uefa Cup qualifying spot has convinced the manager to reward him further.

And Stubbs admits that he is proud of the way he is fighting back the advancing years to keep his game up to Premiership standard – and wants to end his career at Goodison.

“I’ve enjoyed it but it is difficult and it doesn’t get any easier the older you get, but I know for a fact that I’m not ready to hang my boots up yet,” said the centre-back. “Signing was pretty straightforward, to be honest.

“I dreamed of playing for Everton when I was a five-year-old lad and now, hopefully, this is the club where I will end my career.

“When that time comes I don’t know and I won’t need anybody to tell me, but at this moment I don’t feel that time is here.

“There’s still a desire inside me to do well. I don’t think I’ve got anything to prove to people but I like to prove people wrong.

“People have approached me and said how well I’ve been doing because of my age and that makes me proud.

“It’s never easy to play in the Premier League whatever age you are, so the fact that I’m still going at 35 I’m really proud of.

“Physically I feel really good, I don’t do any less training than the other players.

“It’s been a challenge. A few players have come in, I knew my place was under threat but throughout my career I’ve always thrived when faced with a challenge and it’s been the same this year.”

Stubbs’ fine form at the heart of defence alongside Joseph Yobo persuaded Moyes to utilise centre-back Joleon Lescott at left-back for much of the campaign.

And Stubbs added: “I’ve obviously been doing something right and the fact that Joleon’s been playing at left-back means I’ve been doing the right things to keep him there.

“It would have been easy for the manager to bring Joleon back in at centre-half after the job he’s done there so it’s been really pleasing.

“But I always say if the team is playing well it makes your job 100 times easier and it’s made it easy for me to come in, do my job and the confidence has been really high around the team.”